Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsAugust 7, 2018

Court-appointed attorneys in Pinellas and Pasco counties are complaining they’re blocked from seeing key documents in the very cases they’re supposed to be defending. The Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel for the 2nd District filed a petition last week asking for online access to documents. The office was created by lawmakers to represent clients when […]

Scott PowersAugust 7, 2018

A few days after seeing Republican Gov. Rick Scott‘s campaign launch a TV commercial seeking to blame him for Florida’s algae crisis, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is firing back with an internet ad attempting to portray the environmental disaster as entirely Scott’s fault. The new 30-second video, “Algae,” begins with images of putrid, green […]

Scott PowersAugust 7, 2018

Another internal poll in the closing weeks before the Aug. 28 primaries has Gwen Graham atop the Democratic field but also has Philip Levine not far behind and starting to open some daylight between them and the other three Democrats running for governor. The new poll commissioned by Levine’s campaign being released Tuesday from Public […]

Drew WilsonAugust 7, 2018

CFO Jimmy Patronis’ campaign attacked Democratic challenger Jeremy Ring Tuesday over a trio of businesses that have failed with him at the helm. The first of the so-called flops is one Ring, a former State Senator and Yahoo exec, readily admits. Shortly after leaving Yahoo in 2001, Ring launched digital tech company Convizion, and it failed […]

Jim RosicaAugust 7, 2018

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The 1st District Court of Appeal on Monday agreed to “pass through” to the state’s Supreme Court a case on whether a proposed amendment to end greyhound racing should stay on the November ballot. A unanimous three-judge panel said the matter was “of great public importance,” needing “immediate resolution … due to time constraints related to the pending election and ballot preparation […]

Jim RosicaAugust 6, 2018

An administrative law judge on Monday struck down a proposed state regulation carving out a ‘citrus preference’ for medical marijuana provider licenses, calling it “invalid.” The decision may be moot, however, because a circuit judge last week declared the section of state law creating the preference to be unconstitutional. (That story is here.) Louis Del […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 6, 2018

Luther Campbell’s South Florida hip-hop act 2 Live Crew was an essential part of many Florida childhoods and adolescences in the 1980s and 1980s, parental advisory stickers not withstanding. Campbell has matured since those days, and has become a perceptive political commentator. And now, a statewide endorser. In a new radio spot called “Badass Governor,” the […]

Scott PowersAugust 6, 2018

Republican Gov. Rick Scott is telling his oft-told tale of his humble upbringing in public housing and rise to success, in Spanish now, with a new TV commercial. The 30-second spot, “Esperanza,” [“Hope,”] produced for Spanish-language television, tells his story in old photo-album snapshots and narration. And then the narrator, text, and his own comments […]

Jim RosicaAugust 6, 2018

A Tallahassee judge eviscerated the state law on medical marijuana, declaring major provisions to be unconstitutional. The ruling came in a challenge brought by Florigrown, which had been denied a chance to become a “medical marijuana treatment center” (MMTC), or provider. The company is partly owned by Tampa strip club mogul and free speech advocate Joe Redner. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 6, 2018

An ad released Monday by U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, a Republican candidate for governor, reminds Florida voters of the central distinction between him and opponent Adam Putnam. Namely, the President backs DeSantis. The 30 second spot begins with stentorian music, and Trump enumerating DeSantis’ virtues: “A true leader, a proud veteran, a tough, brilliant cookie … Ron […]

Headlines
Dozens of vehicles were torched in a fire at a Jacksonville International Airport fire in a garage May 16. Image via Jacksonivlle Aviation Authority.

Techno-blunder? Lawyers say they can’t view files in their own cases

Bill Nelson ad: Florida’s algae crisis is made by Rick Scott

Poll: Gwen Graham, Philip Levine back to 1-2 atop the Democratic field for Governor

Risky business: Jimmy Patronis hits Jeremy Ring over past ‘flops and failures’

Appeals court hands off dog racing ban challenge to Supreme Court

Judge strikes down proposed ‘citrus preference’ rule for marijuana licenses

Starpower: Luther ‘Uncle Luke’ Campbell drops radio spot for Philip Levine

Rick Scott tells his rags-to-riches story in new Spanish ad

Judge declares parts of medical marijuana law unconstitutional

‘Tough cookie’: Ron DeSantis reminds Florida voters who Donald Trump backs for governor